Case-emptying machine



S. M. HEULINGS CASE EMPTYING MACHINE 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 19 INVENTOR:

WC A" TORNEYS.

1 fltZfL- May 8', 1923- 1,454,051

5. M. HEULINGS CASE EMPTYING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1920 6 sheetssheet 2 1 INVENTOR:

- 5amzwlfiifiimlzlnyg May 8, 1923 s. M. HEULINGS CASE EMPTYING MACH NE 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 19,

FIG I INVENTOR 1 WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

s 1, :0 W M .-.3 .Z i A a M n e N M mm M M 4, i H 1 m M A e N m w. m E 0 5 .5 G w 1 m m L G 1 U N h E U C H T M .w M M E d I e s w n n F s W 2 9 1 ,1 6% s 5 5 Y 6 a M M F W W 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 S. M. HEULINGS CASE EMPTYII iG MACHI NE Flled March 19 19 0 May 8, 1923' Samuel Mfleulings,

Patented May 8, 1923..

, srras cesn-nmrrrmo momma.

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial No. 867,225.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. Hnomnos, acitizen of the United States, residing in Haddonfield, in the county of Camden and State of New Jerse have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Case- Emptying Machines, whereof the following is a specification, Teference being bad to the accompanying drawings. The invention relates to machines for emptying cases of their contents, and its chief ObJBCt is to provide machines whereby this operation may be quickly accomplished automatically, and the cases and their released charges, transferred separately to convenient points or locations where subsequent operations may be performed upon them. As will become apparent from the detailed description which follows, such machines may be em loyed to advantage in milk bottling estab ishments for the purpose of removin the empty bottles, after sterilizing, from t he shippm cases in which they are ordinarily handle in dozen lots, so that they may be conveyed to filling machines, and at the same time, of progressing the emptied cases to a point of delivery conveniently accessible for recharging after the bottles have been properly filled and capped. The invention also comprehends novel means. by which the bottles, after being released from the cases as above noted, may

be selectively conducted in single file order to any one or multiple of a series-of channels leading, for example, to as many difierent filling machines or other associated apparatus so that the operation of the plants in which the machines are employed may be regulated according to the output required of them.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I, is a side elevation of a case emptying machine conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. II, 1s a longitudinal sectional view upon an enlarged scale through the receiving end of the machine.

Fig. III, is a similar sectional view of a portion of the delivery end of the machine showing the manner in .which the'empty cases are delivered to a discharge guideway. Fig IV, is a detail cross section viewed in the direction of the arrows IV-IV in Figs.-

I and'II.

Fig. V, is a view similar to Fig. II, somewhat more condensed in scope, 'showing'particularly the tilting table by aid of which position to the means separated relation.

the filled cases are transferred in inverted for progressing them through the machine. g

Fig. VI, is a cross sectional view throu h the machine indicated by the arrows VI- in Fig. I.

Figs. v11, vmimd IX, are detail views on an enlarged scale, of one of the link structures employed in the sprocket chains of the conveyor by which the cases are progressed through the machine, and at the same time lifted from-about the dumped contents.

Fig. X, is a view, more or less diagrams matic, showing in plan the guide assage through which the dischargedv bott progressed after being released from their cases.

Figs. XI, XII, XIII and XIV, are illustrations similar to'Fig. X showing various arrangements of the switches b which the bottles may be diverted in sing e file order from the main guide passage to any one or multiple of a series of separate discharge channels.

The filled cases 1,'with the bottles up side down or inverted therein are delivered to the machine over a trestle such as indicated at 2, in Figs. I, II and IV. This trestle may lead, for example, from a sterilizing chamber wherein the milk bottles are cleansed in a well known manner preparatory to refilling. Said trest e comprises a series of spaced,

freely revolving rollers 3, which are jour-.

will be noted more particularly from Fig.

6S are VI, the bottle cases 1, are constructed of thin sheet material provided with a cellular insert 6, by which the bottles are maintained in cases are formed of wire mesh 7, so that if desired, sterilizing may be accomplished without necessitating removal of the bottles for this purpose. As here shown, the tops of the cases are open.

In order to permit the ready separation of the cases and their contents in the course of progression through the machine, the filled cases are transferred to the conveying means in inverted position. For this 'urpose. I

' have provided a tilting table 8, which asbest seen in Figs. II and V, comprises two sup These brackets are fulcrumed about a rod 12,

The bottoms of these.

- portingplates 9 and 1O, a1" ranged at right 1110 extending transversely of the frame struc-- weight to the receiving position shown in Fig. V, the main portion of the plate 9, occupies a level somewhat above the top of the rolls 2. Thus as the cases are shifted forward upon said rollers by the operative in feeding the machine, the shoulder 13, serves as a stop about which the cases are manually swung, as suggested in broken lines in Elg. -V, and turned upon their sides n being transferred to the tilting table. When in the position just described, the tilting table is supported upon bufi'er stops 14, set upon transverse bars 15, of the structural frame 5, of the machine. After this initial positioning of the bottle cases upon the tilting table, the latter is swung. about its fulcrum through substantially an angle of 90, the extent of this motion being determined by a second set ofbulier stops 16, upon the opposite side of the rod 12. This inversion of the cases 1 has the effect of righting the bottles therein. When thus turned, the upper surface of the plate 10, of the tilting table serves as a continuation of the top surface of an endless conveyor, represented comprehensively by thenumeral 18, by which the bottles-are advanced through the machine. This conveyor comprises a pair of spaced sprocket chains 19, 19, (see Fig. VT.) to the respectively co-' ordinated links of which are attached transverse bridging plates 20. These plates serve to form a continuous sup orting surface or belt for the bottles during their. traverse through the machine. The chains 19, are guided over sprockets 21 and 22, respectively disposed at opposite ends of the machine. The upper or active run of the conveyor 18, is sustained near its edges by longitudinally running rails 23, 23, rigidly attached to the frame of the machine, and which engage the under sides of the plates 20. The lower run of said conveyor is similarly sustained through a proportion of its extent, at the feed end of the machine,by rails 25,25. The span between the ends of the rails 25, and the sprockets 22, is sustained through the assistance of idler drums 26 and 27.

A second endless conveyor-comprehensive- 1y indicated by the numeral 28, is adapted to advance the cases through the machine independently of the progression of the dumped contents. This conveyor also comprises a pair of spaced sprocket chains 29, 29, (see Fig. running over sprocket wheels 30, 31 (Fig. 1.). The chains 29, 29, are composed of a series of special links, the details of which are clearly shown in Figs. VII,-

VIII and IX. Dwelling for a moment at this point to study the structure of said links, it will be seen that each is provided with integral lug extensions 32, 32,.to which is attached, by means of screw bolts 33, a right angled bracket piece 35. Slidably mounted upon the horizontal le of said angular bracket 35, is a plate 36,- lormed with an integral beveled rojection 37. The plate 36, is slotted as indicated at 38,for cooperation with stud bolts39, by which guidance is effected. The projection 37, is pressed in a direction away from the vertical legs of the bracket 35, by means of an interposed spring 40, encircling a guide bolt 41, the head of which, by virtue of its engagement with the outer face of the vertical leg of the bracket 35, serves as a stop to maintain the parts normally in the position illustrated in Fig. VH1. From Fig. VT, it will be noted that when the links are assembled to form the conveyor chains 29, upon both sides of the machine, the bevel faces of the projections 37, are disposed relatively in opposition. Thus when the cases are transferred to the conveyor, the spring pressed slide plates will yield under the cam action of the inclined surfaces of the projections so that the (now) lower edges of the inverted "open-topped cases will be engaged or grasped and supported between them and consequently carried along by the conveyor 28. Referring now to Figs. ll, IT and VT, it will be seen that the upper run of the chains 29, 29, are sustained in angle iron guideways 42, 42, rigid.-

ly attached to the frame 5, and that these guideways are each formed in two segments represented at 43 and 44. The segment 43, it will be noted, is slightly divergent with respect to the upper surface of the bottle conveyor 18, to permit initially, the gradual ready'withdrawal of the cases from about the larger lower portions of the dumped bottles. while the segment 44 is inclined more abruptly so as to elevate the case more rapidly after the point where all further probability of interference with separation or of capsizing of bottles is passed. Thus the cases 1 are progressively withdrawn upward from about the righted bottles,--or the bottles progressively withdrawn downward and released from the cases,--as the cases are progressed above the substantially horizontal conveyor 18, at first gradually and then more abruptly. In order to restrict the conveyor chains 29,29, to travel positively along the course of the guideways 42, I have provided at the junctures of their composite segments 43, 44, idler wheels 45, adapted to engage the chains to hold them positively to the desired path of travel. These idler wheels 45, are mounted upon a shaft 46,

'journa-lled in bearings 47 secured to the uprights 48, of the machine frame 5'.

The empty cases after being elevated by the conveyor, as above noted, are permitted to drop into a discharge chute 50, (Fig. l)

dicated by the shading in Fig. I, so that thecases, may roll by gravity to any convenient point for recharging afterthe bottles have een filled. It is desirablethat the cases be delivered to the discharge channel in upthis purpose, I propose to break the fall of as a pivot, and gradually righted as they fall position upon the discharge right position, and in order to" accomplish the cases as they drop from the conveyor 28, by interposing, as shown in Fig. III, a stop ledge 53, which is mounted upon the top of a cross piece '55. During such action, the stop ledge engages one of the edges of the cases, so that they are turned about the same to the final trestle 51. The turning of the cases is further facilitated b a deflecting late 56, in a manner clearly s own in Fig. II.

The bottle conveyor 18, and the case conveyor 28, are operated in practice, at substantially the same speed rate, such actua tion being efiected through a driving system which includes a main driving shaft 60, journalled in appropriate hearings on the frame 5, of the machine. This shaft may be driven fromany convenient source of power,

and transmits its motion through a chain "connection represented;conventionally at 61,

in Fig. I, to the shaft 62, upon which the sprockets 22, for the bottle conveyor 18, are mounted. The actuation of the case c'onveyor is effected from the same source by means of a chain 63, which transmits motion to a shaft 64, upon which the sprockets 31, for said conveyor are mounted. The connections just described are preferably enclosed by a protective guard 65, so as to prevent splashing of oilor greaseupon the botties during their traverse through the mac me.

After being delivered upon the conveyor 18, the bottle groups are progressed through a guide passage 66, bounded upon the sides by guard rails 67, 68, which run longitudinally of the framestructure at a level someof the conveyor, see Figs. III and XIV. The passage 66, thus formed leads to a series of discharge channels 69','70. 71 and 72, adapted to receive the bottles in single file, and through which the bottles may be conducted to as many different filling machines or to any other associated apparatus, over an inter-' posed connecting table. a portion of which is shown at 73, in Fig. I. This table merely serves as a continuation of said channels and is'provided with aseries of conveyor belts, such as indicated at 74, in said figure. The cases. ordinarily employed. in milk bottling establishments, are adapted to contain a dozen b tt eslarranged in four rows of three each, andthe bottles are deposited in this order upon the conveyor 18, when the cases are dumped as previously described.

For the purpose of gradually breaking up,

these bottle groups,,and permitting selective diversion to any one ormultiple of the out let channels. 69, 70, 71 and 72, I have pro-- Fig. XIV, ,it will be seen that the bottle groups are left undisturbed andthat they travel along the guide passage in the same.

order in which they are deposited upon the conveyor, and readily find their way in equal distribution to the several discharge channels. If it be desired for example, to divert the bottles only to the channels 71 and 72, this may be effected by swinging the main switch 75, to the full line position illustrated in X, and leaving the secondary switch In the normal position indicated in. I

broken lines. By virtue of the attenuation effected in the guide passage by positioning the main switch as above suggested, the bottlegroups will automatically resolve themselves into tworows in the course of their ap roach to thechannels-71 and 72.

- y swinging the main switch to the opposite side of the guide passage, it will be seen that the bottles maybe as readily diverted to the channels 69 and 70. As other alternatives, if it be desired to employ any one of the channels 69, 70, 71 or 72 separately, this may be accomplished by arranging the various switches to the difierent full line positions shown in Figs. X, XI, XII and XIII, the resultant efi'ects thus obtained being so obvious from the illustrations that further detailed description is thought unnecessary. I Y

In practice, it is sometimes a difiicult matter to cause milk bottle groups to be broken up for delivery inv a single file order, because of the interference of raised letters,

which'are ordinarily molded upon the outer surfaces of the bottles for advertising or 86 and 87, the one projectinginto the bot tle passage above, and the other below the 7 guide 68. This element rotates, as shown by the arrow in Fig. X,'in a counterdirec- 7 tion to the movement of bottles,and is driveh through a bevel gear connection 88 (Fig. l) from a shaft 89, actuated directly from the main shaft 60, through a sprocket chain 90. The action of this turning device induces a counterrolling of the outer lines of the bottles, and thus tends to prevent clogging of the passa e, when congested as shown in Fig. X. xcept when feeding the channels 69, 70, 71 and 72, separately, the turning device may be removed entirely.

At the region of the mounting of the idler wheels 45, the structure is provided with a protective'canopy 91, which overhangs substantially the'whole of the receiving end'of the machine.

The guide passage for the bottles is similarly overhung byprotective canopies 92, 93. These canopies serve to prevent infection from over head drippings either from the cases or the conveyor 28.

Having thus described my invention, I

- claim:

1. A bottle case emptying machine, comprising, in combination, a conveyor with means for graspin and supporting the lower edges of inverte cases; and a conveyor travelling beneath the cases so progressed serving tosupport and progress the bottles along a course divergent from that of the cases, so that the cases are progressively Withdrawn from about the bottles.

2. A bottle case emptying machine comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal conveyor for supporting and progressing bottles; and means for supporting inverted cases initially containing said bottles and progressing them above said conveyor along a course diverging upward therefrom at first gradually and then more abruptly, so as at first to withdraw the cases from about the lower portions of the bottles without interference or capsizing of bottles. and then effect more rapid separation of cases and bottles.

3. 'A case emptying machine comprising .means forprogressing a'filled case in inverted pisition and for at the same time causing the'case and the dumped contents to travel respectively along vertically divergent paths, the relative deviation being maintained at an easy angle initially to prevent interference with withdrawal. and

thereafter being more abrupt to efiect complete separation more rapidly.

4. A case emptying machine comprising means for progressing a filled case in inverted position, said means including a conveyor for supporting and advancing the dumped contents of the case and a second conveyor for independently supporting and advancing the case, the course of the latter conveyor being divergent from that of the first conveyor, and the relative deviation being comparatively slight initially to pre vent interference to withdrawal of the case, and thereafter being more abrupt to efiect complete separation more rapidly:

5. A case emptying machine comprising means for progressing a filled case in inverted position, said means including a conveyor for supporting and advancing the dumped contents of the case and a second conveyor for independently supporting and advancing the case, the course of the latter conveyor being divergent from that of the first mentioned conveyor and the relative dc viation being comparatively slight initially to prevent interference to Withdrawal of the case, and thereafter being more abrupt to effect complete separation more rapidly; in combination with guideways for sustaining the case conveyor; and co-operative means for positively holding the conveyor to said guide ways at the region of the change of inclination in the course of its trave i 6. A case emptying machine comprising A means for progressing a filled case in inverted position, said means including a conveyor for supporting and advancing the dumped contents of the case and a second conveyor for independently supporting and advancing the case, the course of the latter conveyor being divergent from that of the first conveyor and the relative deviation being comparatively slight initially to prevent interference to withdrawal of the case, and thereafter being more abrupt to effect complete separation more rapidly;

.in combination with guideways for sustaining the case conveyor; and co-operative idler change of inclination in the course of its travel.

wheels for positively holding said conveyor to said guide, ways at the region of the conveyor travelling beneatli the cases SQ progressed serving to support and progress the bottles along a course divergent from that of the cases, so that the righted bottles are progressively withdrawn from the cases.

9. A bottle case emptying machine comprising, in combination, a substantially horizontal conveyor for supporting an progressing bottles; means-for supporting a initially containing said bottles and progress-- ing them above said conveyor along a course divergent upward therefrom, to progressive- 1y withdraw the cases from about the bottles; means forming a guide passage for bottles terminating in a plurality of separate channels each adapted to receive bottles in single file order; and means for breaking up the group formation of the bottles, as they are carried alon the guide passage by said conveyor after t eir release from the cases, and selectively diverting them to one or more of said channels.

11. A bottle case emptying machine -comprising, in combination, means for receiv mg open-topped cases with inverted bottles therein and transferring said cases in inverted position with the bottles therein righted; means for supporting and proressing the inverted cases receiving them from said first mentioned means; a

substantially horizontally conveyor travelling beneath the cases so progressed serving to support and progress the bottles along a course divergent from that of the cases, so that the righted bottles are progressively withdrawn from the cases; and means for breaking up the group formation ofthe bottles and delivering them in single file order as they are carried along by said conveyor after their release from the cases.

12. A case emptying machine including, in combination, means for progressing filled cases; means for delivering the filled cases successively to a point adjacent the receiving end of the said progressing means; and

' means for receiving the cases from the d'elivering means and transferring them to said progressing means in inverted position, the latter means comprising-a tilting table having two supporting surfaces arranged inquadrant relation and adapted to be swung substantially through a right angle about a fixed fulcrum, one of said surfaces having a stop ledge in the path of the are advanced from the delivering means about whichthe said cases may be turned upon their sides in being mounted upon said table, so that upon subsequent swinging'of the latter the cases shall be delivered to the progressing means in inverted position.

terminating in a cases as they- 13. A bottle case emptying machine com prising means for progressing bottles; in group formation, as released from cases, to a guide passage, said passage terminatingin a series of separate channels each adapted to receive the bottles in single fileorder; andmeans for breaking up said group formation and selectively divertingthe bottles to enter any one or any multiple'of said channels,

14. A bottle case emptying machine .comprising means for progressing .bottles in group formation, through a guide passage, said guide series of se rate 0 nnels each adapted to receive-bott es in single file order; and a group of switches for breaking up said group formation and divert' the bottles to enter one or any multiple d f channels. I

. 15. A bottle case emptying machine comprising means for progressing bottles in group formation, 7

through a guide passage, said guide passa terminating in a. series of. separate channe s each adapted to receive the bottles in single as released from cases,-

as released from cases,

ssage said swung to one side or the other of a central neutral position to break up the aforesaid group formation and divert the bottles to enizer the corresponding-ones of said chant ne s.

"16. A bottle case emptying machine comleased in group formation from cases, through a. guide passage, said passage terminating in aseries of separate channels adapted to receive the bottles in single file order; selective means by which the bottles may be diverted to enter any one of said channels;

and a rotary element turning in a direction opposite to that of the travel of the bottles for inducing counter rotation between hottles of adjacent rows to prevent jamming incomprlsing a. pair of spaced endless sprocket chains having links with sliding members prising means for progressing bottles, as recapable of yielding relatively in such mBIb' ner as to receive and hold the cases between them to effect their progression through the machine.

prising an inclined endless conveyor for adually lifting an inverted cas'efrom its umped contents during. simultaneous progression through the machine,said' conve oroomprising a pair of spaced endles spr t chains, the links of said chains being to.- vided with spring pressed sliding members 18. A bottle case emptying machine comhaving beveled surfaces disposed in opposed relation upon the respective chains so as to be capable of receding under tension automatically to receive the cases between them and thereafter of holding the cases to effect their progressionthrough the machine.

19. A bottle case emptying machine comprising, in combination, means for progressing a case and its contents along divergent paths to efiect complete separation; a guide passage for progression of the bottles in group formation as released, said guide passage terminating in a plurality of separate manner channels each adapted to receive bottles in single file order; and means for breaking up the aforesaid up formation and selectively diverting the bottles to any one or more of said channels.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed m Vania, this seventeenth day of March 1920.

SAMUEL M. HE'ULINGS.

name at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- 53$ 

